Elizabeth's Editions

A novel by Melanie Golding, published by Crooked Lane Books in 2021.

“Forgiveness wasn’t about the other person, though. It was about drawing a line under something, and moving on.”

I recently found myself in a “must-read-for-distraction” situation, and a forgotten Christmas gift—The Hidden by Melanie Golding—turned out to be the perfect antidote to a stressful time. My sister had sent it my way a few years ago, saying it looked intriguing. She was absolutely right.

Slow Burn to Page 42

I’ll admit that the first forty pages were a bit of a slow burn. Despite the promise of short chapters and a broken timeline, I struggled to find my footing. It initially felt like a very standard family drama. But then… page 42 hit, and I was completely hooked. The story takes a sharp left turn into something wonderfully spooky—and I love spooky. After that, I devoured the entire novel in just two sittings.

The Story: Family, Folklore, and Flawed People

The Hidden centers on two primary characters:

• Ruby: A young, classical musician who is estranged from her family.
• Jo: A dedicated police investigator.

Ruby’s world begins to unravel fast after she decides to help a woman struggling with mental health issues and her small child. She quickly discovers that what she assumed was reality is dangerously inaccurate. Hot on her heels is Investigator Jo, who is chasing Ruby for reasons that go far deeper than the immediate crisis.

This book is a unique and compelling study on motherhood at the intersection of mental health, deep folklore, family drama, and murder mystery. It tells a powerful story of flawed people who feel compelled to build narratives around their deepest shame, and the inevitable suffering when those narratives go astray.

What truly sets this novel apart is how Melanie Golding grounds the narrative in reality, yet manages to seamlessly weave in elements of unexpected magical realism. It keeps you guessing until the very end whether the fantastic elements are real or simply a product of a troubled mind.

A Note on Themes (Soft Trigger Warnings)

The Hidden does not shy away from difficult topics. Some relevant themes you will encounter include:

• Uncomfortable motherhood choices
• Domestic abuse and violence
• Murder
• Alcoholism

It is important to note that these themes are integral to the core conflict and are handled with narrative purpose, not for shock value.

Have you read The Hidden? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Note: This post was not sponsored in any way.